Investigation of entrainment and thermal properties of a cryogenic dense-gas cloud using optical measurement techniques

A two-layer model has been applied to a generic element of the cloud, where detailed experimental data regarding velocity and temperature are available. Thermal- and dilution behaviour can be interpreted by means of the model which is presented in detail. A global entrainment parameter is deduced allowing a simple comparison with existing experimental information obtained by other traditional experimental techniques. The numerical values of the present entrainment parameter agree well with the correlations proposed by other authors. Thermal effects, such as heat transfer from the ground, appear to be very important. In addition, the visible height of the cloud can be predicted in relative good agreement with the experimental observations, by means of a thermal balance including the phase transition of the ice particles.